Lab in a Lorry

Lab in a Lorry, a mobile science lab for young people, visited The Macclesfield Academy on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 November to connect young people in the region to science. All Year 7, 8 and 9 students took part in organised visits to the Lab throughout the two days.

Designed to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, Lab in a Lorry offers 11-14 year olds the opportunity to explore science through specially created interactive experiments.

The Lab in a Lorry programme consists of two 44ft lorries that have been visiting schools, youth organisations, major events, and communities free-of-charge across the UK and Ireland since early 2005.

Each lorry is fitted with three distinct lab areas where groups of up to six young people can take part in each of the fun and informative experiments. The programme is delivered by volunteers – all scientists and engineers – and with at least one volunteer mentor to every six students, everyone gets to try their hand at experimental science and think about the surprises and questions that arise.

Lab in a Lorry in the North West of England is an Institute of Physics’ initiative. The Schlumberger Foundation is a founding partner and volunteer assistance is provided by STEMNET. The aim of Lab in a Lorry is to encourage positive attitudes towards science and to make science and engineering more attractive to 11-14 year olds.

Institute of Physics spokesperson James Bamford said:

“Lab in a Lorry is a fantastic experience for young people. It generates excitement and curiosity in science by letting them explore experimental science for themselves with the help of expert mentors.”

Science teacher Mr Mitchell said:

‘’The day was a fantastic success. We managed to get all our Year 7, 8 and 9 students to have a go in the lorry. The experiments were really interactive, and the pupils loved it. I would gladly use the Lab in a Lorry again. The staff were excellent, and the volunteers certainly knew their stuff!”

Yzsnjoy Perez and Eliane Miralles, both Year 8, said:

‘’It was fun and we learnt new things in an exciting way. It was really hands on a

nd it made us feel like proper scientists."

Schools can invite Lab in a Lorry to visit them through the website www.labinalorry.org.uk which also contains information on how to become a volunteer.

Year 9 and 10 Students Blaze A New Trail!

When we opened The Academy two years ago, one of our core aims was to raise our students’ aspirations and challenge them to achieve more than they ever thought possible. This was the thinking that lay behind our radical approach to curriculum design: we wanted our students to work towards achievement in GCSE as soon as we felt they were ready. That is why our personalised curriculum allows some of our students to sit GCSEs in Year 9 and Year 10 in subjects at which they excel.

This year saw the first results from students who had taken one year GCSE options in Years 9 and 10. These students had been studying their specialist subjects for five hours a week - twice as much teaching time as a typical GCSE student - and have achieved some stunning results.  Pride of place goes to four Year 9 students: Kymara Akinpelumi (Drama), Alex Brownjohn (Media Studies), Bradley Clarke (History) and Sebastian Freke-Morin (French) who, remarkably, have gained A* grades at the age of only 14. Their results are among 20 passes at A and above by Year 9 students.

Not to be outdone, our Year 10 students notched up 41 passes at A and A* in subjects as diverse as Biology, Drama, Art, French, Geography, History, IT, Media Studies, Music and Spanish,  and a stunning 200 at C and above. These students have shown that it is possible to achieve remarkable things if we raise our aspirations and continually strive to make our best even better.  They have laid the foundations which will enable them to do remarkable things next year and have set an outstanding example for the rest of our students as we encourage them to be relentless in their pursuit of excellence. We are very proud of them all.

Academy Students Shatter Results Record!

Exam results day always dawns with a tinge of nervous anticipation for students, parents and staff alike. This year was no exception. For me the question was simple. Could we possibly match last year’s fantastic achievement when 80% of our students had achieved 5 A*-C grades at GCSE or equivalent?  I knew that our students had worked really hard. I knew they had been well taught. I knew that their parents had given them all the support they could. Even so, they had a hard act to follow: last year our students had smashed the record for our predecessor school and had set the bar very high indeed.

The tension mounted as the results were downloaded and analysed. Then the news broke. This year’s students had not just matched last year’s: they had done better still. In fact they had not just done better; they had done massively better and raised the record to a stunning 93%! I was so proud of them, of their teachers and of everybody who had helped them to scale these new heights.

Exam statistics do matter. The results our students achieve stay with them for the rest of their lives and give them choices they might otherwise be denied. As the day went on, however, and I spoke to student after student and parent after parent, the figures themselves became less important than the pride I could see and hear in those around me.

Rachel Snowden, who attained Grade As in Chemistry, Maths, French, Geography, IT, Physics and RE as well as 5 Grade Bs, said, “It is amazing. I really can’t put it into words. I am so proud of the progress I have made. I came in at low levels from my primary school but the support I have received at The Academy has enabled me to achieve more than anyone thought I could. I am so proud of this school and what I have achieved.”

Among our other highest achievers were Dominic Moore (who gained 5 passes at Grade A* and 6 at Grade A), Abigail Luke, Laura Crosland, Emma Sykes, Samuel Johns, Lauren Bailey, Peter Sutton, Lillie McGuckian, Mitchell Loftus, Jennifer Atkinson, Sophie Littler and Isabel Pearce.  Dominic said it all:  “I was delighted when I saw my results. The Academy has really encouraged me to work hard and ‘make my best better’. I feel the work ethic here has really pushed me to get the best grades I can so that I can move on to A-levels confident of success.”

Richard HedgeHeadteacher